Flying with 9 Month Old - Poplar Grove,IL

Yes, yes, and yes!
Also, I like to buy the 8oz pre-made bottles for convenience (Similac). I will bring a couple of those on board and they have no problem with that or even jarred baby food, as long as it's sealed.
Here is also a great website: Travels with Baby (the Faqs section is particularly helpful)
http://www.travelswithbaby.com/planning/faqs_topics.htm

You have gotten great answers so far. Also, I suggest for the kids, pack a small bag of "new" toys for them so if they get bored or start to fuss you can pull one item out at a time to entertain. I usually just go to Wal-Mart or the dollar store and find several inexpensive new things (or borrow toys from a friend). I always bring snacks and a DVD player also so I usually don't have to get everything out at once and have some left for the return flight. I just bring one thing out at a time as needed and each item lasts awhile. This has saved many meltdowns! Even for other kids around us. I've seen people fly with no snacks, toys, or anything for their little ones and they have had meltdowns so we've offered to share books, toys, etc. to help not drive everybody else crazy from their screaming. My son is 5 and has flown with me about 20 times since he was 9 months and this has always been a lifesaver for me.

When he was less than 2 and didn't require a carseat on the plane, I always checked that so I didn't have to deal with it. You can check the carseat and stroller at the gate, carry any snacks, and the sealed formula is fine. You can take a bottle of formula/milk through security, but not juice. You can always buy that once you get through or get it on the plane. Also, make sure if you have an liquid medicines or jars of baby food that you put those in the quart size clear baggie for security. Baby food counts as a liquid/gel as I found out the hard way once and had to have the entire diaper bag searched after not knowing that!

Sit by other kids if you fly Southwest and have a choice of seats. That sometimes helps, too:-) They'll help entertain each other.

Good luck!

Just an add on as you've gotten great advice. See if you can request the bulk head seats. That's where there are no seats in front of you just the wall. It's a little more leg room as you'll wanna give your self room to wiggle and if the baby stands with holding on to you he can move around a little too. I've travelled with my son since he was 10months old. He usually fell asleep due to the white noise from the plane. Have a great trip.

Hi B..
We travel with our 14 month old alot. Yes, you can check car seat and stroller at the gate. We check the car seat, and bring the stroller right to the gate. I nursed, but I am pretty sure you can bring formula through. Yes, I always bring snacks in my bag. playdough, new dollar tree items, dvd player, teething tablets, motrin, snacks, water, and books are all things that I am going to pack with us when we go to the caribean in august with our baby. Have a great time!

Yes, you can check the babies carseat/stroller at the gate and powdered container is fine as well as non liquid snacks. Here are some helpful tips for the kids.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/550

Yes, check your carseat and stroller at the boarding gate so they don't get counted as luggage, don't get banged up, so you have them when you walk off the plane, and if there are extra seats on the flight they sometimes let you have a free seat for your baby. Baby items checked at the gate gets stored on TOP over all the luggage so they don't get damaged.

I always brought snacks onto the flights with me. Some airports will let you bring small amounts of liquids with you... like if the baby is drinking bottle of milk. Bring a small amount of formula and they shouldn't have to check it. BUT, get there early just in case. I had no problem in one airport so I cut the next airport close and nearly missed my flight because they were trying to take away my son's medication.

Be sure to bring your baby's birth certificate it you are going to have it considered a lap baby. They will need to verify it is not over 2 years old (even if they can tell by looking). Also, when you check in your luggage (or get your tickets depending on what you are flying) tell them you have a lap baby because they will need to print a "ticket" for the baby and attach it to your ticket.

Here are a few answers - yes, you can check the stroller & baby car seat at the gate. Yes, you can bring powdered formula - in fact, you can bring liquid formula or breast milk but you need to pull it out of your bag and identify it to the security guards before you go through security. For the baby - I strongly recommend giving the baby a bottle or pacifier to suck on during take-off and landing to relieve pressure from his/her ears. Otherwise, bring lots of toys/surprises to help distract the children during the flight. Something new usually works well so that they can spend a little extra time figuring it out and enjoying it to help make the flight go a bit faster. Good luck and have fun!

The answer to your questions are all yes :) As far as making a bottle for the plane ride (the sucking on take off will help with the ears), you can buy a bottle of water after you have passed through security and make a bottle with that and take it on the plane. For the snacks, just make sure none of them are "liquid snacks." When I have to take the kids on a flight, I have each of them carry a little backpack with a few snacks, travel toys, etc. Smaller backpacks can fit on the floor in front of their seat so you aren't constantly going in the overhead bin for their stuff.

Good luck!

We've traveled with our 2 boys (now 3 and 1-1/2) quite a bit since they were infants, and I echo many of the responses you've gotten, especially the DVD player for the older boys. Just want to add that if you're flying Southwest, ask if the flight is full when you check your bags. If it's not, you can bring the carseat on the plane at no charge, but it has to be in the window seat. The baby will be more comfortable and will probably fall asleep for a good portion of the flight in the carseat. You didn't mention in your question if the baby is in the infant carrier or a convertible seat, but I'm assuming you're still using the infant seat. There are notches in front of the handle under the fabric so that you can weave the seatbelt to secure the seat. We use this method in the rental car so that we don't have to bring the base; it's very tight and secure, but obviously takes longer than just snapping the carseat into the base.

As far as powdered formula, it doesn't need to be in a sealed can. Use formula "tupperware" that's segmented so you can portion out enough for several feedings in case there's a flight delay, and put the rest of the formula in your checked baggage. Those canisters are very bulky, so we always transferred it to a ziploc bag. Good luck and have a great trip!!

You can check the carseat and stroller at the gate, but it is easier to just check them with luggage (they don't count as your luggage allowance). I would suggest putting the baby in something like an Ergo carrier, as you don't have to take him off going through security.

You can bring formula (you can actually bring liquid for the infant, as long as it is declared). You can bring snacks as well. Depending how long the flight is, you may want to have some surprises for the boys for the flight. For the baby, make sure that you have milk/formula available for take off and landing, and snacks if he eats them. Let him play with whatever will entertain him. My son liked to rip up the magazine, but it made him happy. the white noise might actually put him right to sleep.

Also, buy a bunch of earplugs for nearby passengers, just in case.